Alexander Volkanovski has particular standards in thoughts for his subsequent struggle — he needs to return at UFC 312 in Australia and he needs gold on the road.
The previous featherweight king hasn’t competed since he suffered a devastating knockout loss to Ilia Topuria again in February, which value him the 145-pound title. With the UFC now returning to Australia on Feb. 9, Volkanovski makes it clear that he plans to struggle on that card come hell or excessive water.
“I’m going to do no matter it takes to be sure that I’m on that card,” Volkanovski mentioned throughout an area press convention saying the occasion through Submission Radio. “I’ll be entertaining in Sydney in February, 100%.
“Whether or not it’s for the title, an interim [title], light-weight title, I don’t care what it’s. If for some cause I can’t get a struggle, I’ll entertain on the DJ decks or one thing. I’ll discover a technique to do it.”
Ideally, Volkanovski want to struggle the winner of the UFC 308 principal occasion the place Topuria places his featherweight title up for grabs towards Max Holloway.
However the 36-year-old former champion acknowledges that there’s all types of potential obstacles that might stop the winner from combating in late October after which competing once more three months later in early February.
He hopes both Topuria or Holloway keep wholesome sufficient to struggle once more that quickly however that’s additionally why Volkanovski has the concept about introducing an interim title of their absence.
“If there’s accidents or one thing, I feel an interim could possibly be which may match,” Volkanovski mentioned. “Max, if he was to win, he clearly has the ‘BMF’ belt as properly so whether or not he strikes as much as light-weight, which might imply an interim. So we’ve had these conversations and I’m actually going to push for that.
“I’m fairly positive they do each need fast turnarounds. You’ve obtained accidents that might get in the way in which, different divisions for Max. So that might imply possibly an interim title, which is ok. Something with gold, I’ll be blissful. That’ll simply lock me in for whoever wins that in any case. So even when it’s interim, that’s nonetheless a giant one.”
Whereas nothing has been determined but and possibly received’t till after UFC 308 concludes, Volkanovski believes that top-ranked contender Diego Lopes is the most certainly candidate for an opponent if Topuria or Holloway aren’t out there.
Recent off a win over Brian Ortega in September, Lopes is ready to weigh-in because the backup fighter for the title bout in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 26. Volkanovski welcomes that problem to make sure he will get to struggle in Australia in February.
“I’d say it might be an thrilling one with [Diego] Lopes if that was going to occur,” Volkanovski mentioned. “If not, it’s Max or Ilia.”
So far as who he’s choosing to win at UFC 308, Volkanovski has loads of historical past with each males however proper now he’s leaning in direction of a brand new champion being topped in Holloway.
“I feel he’s confirmed himself time and time once more,” Volkanovski mentioned about Holloway. “So it seems to be like I may need to do No. 4 with the man so we’ll see what occurs.
:I’d in all probability wish to compete with Ilia, get that win again, to be fairly trustworthy however I used to be requested the query who do I feel would win, I assumed it in all probability could be Max. However whoever it’s, they’ve obtained the belt in order that’s thrilling.”
